Ezra Pound: The Solitary Volcano

Aug 1, 2023

In this podcast, we delve into the complex life of Ezra Pound, a controversial poetic genius of the 20th century. We explore his extraordinary talent-spotting skills and his ability to turn vibrant social scenes into artistic movements. We also discuss his descent into Fascism and anti-semitism, as well as his poetic and cultural innovations. Learn about his friendship with W.B. Yeats, the launch of Blast Magazine, and the cautionary tale his life provides about resentment.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Importance of Developing Original and Specific Critical Opinions

01:57 • 7min

Rebel Writer's College Days and Teaching Job

08:31 • 6min

Ezra Pound: Cultivating Honest and Aggressive Feedback in Poetry

14:20 • 18min

The Vorticist Movement and Blast Magazine

32:26 • 3min

Exploring the Experimental Magazine Blast and its Impact

35:41 • 3min

The Impact of World War I and the Shift towards Journalism

38:16 • 17min

The Paradoxical Nature of Ezra Pound's Character

55:38 • 22min

A Poet's Tragic End and Reflections on Regret

01:17:58 • 6min

We dissect the complex life of Ezra Pound, one of the most interesting and controversial poetic geniuses of the 20th century. You'll gain insight into: Why Pound was so influential, his extraordinary talent-spotting skills, and his knack for turning vibrant social scenes into artistic movements. However, be prepared for a rollercoaster ride, as we also delve into the darker sides of Pound's life, including his descent into Fascism and anti-semitism. I believe the story is a cautionary tale about resentment, the modern passion par excellence, and a dangerous trap for people who rebel against institutions.

This podcast will help you understand Pound's poetic and cultural innovations, including Imagism and Vorticism, and how his strong opinions and unique perspective propelled him, despite his controversial and often off-putting personality. We'll recount his turbulent career during WWI and WWII, his friendship with W.B. Yeats, the launch of Blast Magazine, and much more.

This podcast is based on a close reading of Ezra Pound: The Solitary Volcano (1987) by John Tytell.

Chapters

(0:00:00) - Intro
(0:04:04) - Summary of Lessons From Ezra Pound's Life
(0:17:22) - Dense Networks and Creative Success
(0:26:26) - Imagism and Vorticism
(0:37:05) - Wyndham Lewis and Blast Magazine
(0:42:41) - A Restless and Controversial Personality
(0:53:07) - Taste, Talent-Spotting, and Pound's Extreme Generosity
(1:04:52) - Downward Spiral
(1:18:29) - Ezra Pound's Reflections Late in Life
(1:22:07) - Final Lessons

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(00:00) - Overview
(04:04) - Summary of Lessons From Ezra Pound's Life
(17:22) - Intense Friendships and Creative Success
(26:26) - Imagism and Vorticism
(37:05) - Wyndham Lewis, Blast Magazine
(42:41) - A Restless and Controversial Personality
(53:07) - Taste, Talent-Spotting, and Pound's Extreme Generosity
(01:04:52) - Downward Spiral Into Fascism
(01:18:29) - Ezra Pound's Reflections Late in Life
(01:22:07) - Final Lessons